Kathrine Frich
The NATO alliance kicked off its annual maritime exercise in early June.
When neighboring countries start moving their military hardware around, people pay attention. Add a shared body of water and a few harsh words, and the tension quickly goes up a notch. Now, a crowded sea is hosting a very loud and very crowded standoff.
A crowded sea
Right now, the Baltic Sea is packed. The NATO alliance kicked off its annual maritime exercise in early June. Known as BALTOPS, the joint drill runs until late in the month.
The scale is massive. About 6,000 personnel from 15 different countries have gathered for the operation. They brought roughly 20 ships to practice their coordination, according to Reuters.
But they are not the only ones running drills. Russia decided to launch its own military maneuvers at the exact same time.
Missiles and bombers
The Russian navy stepped up its activity near its own borders. Over a two-day span, forces engaged in heavy maneuvers. State news agency Interfax reported that the drills included unguided missile launches and bombing runs.
Two small missile ships took part in the maritime operation. Ten military aircraft, including fighter jets and heavy bombers, joined the simulated strikes.
All of this action centered on Kaliningrad. That highly fortified piece of land holds massive strategic value for Moscow.
An isolated outpost
Kaliningrad is a Russian enclave sitting squarely on the Baltic coast. It does not touch mainland Russia at all. Instead, it is wedged tightly between Poland and Lithuania.
Both of those neighbors belong to the NATO alliance. About one million people live in the territory, which serves as the headquarters for the Russian Baltic Fleet.
The enclave is heavily guarded and packed with military hardware. And recent comments have put a fresh spotlight on its isolation.
Trading harsh words
These overlapping naval exercises follow a very public dispute. Tensions flared in late May after a blunt, provocative comment from Lithuania.
The Lithuanian foreign minister suggested that the Western alliance needed to show it could breach the Russian outpost. That statement drew an immediate reaction from the top.
President Vladimir Putin fired back a sharp warning. He stated that his country possesses all the necessary tools to destroy any force attempting to strike Kaliningrad.
Right now, neither side is backing down. The competing military drills make that completely clear. Both groups are delivering their warnings loudly, right out on the water.
Sources: Reuters, Interfax, Digi24
